Over one lakh Ola, Uber drivers declared an indefinite strike in February, making a charter of demands. 20 Ola, Uber drivers began an indefinite fast in protest against the companies yesterday.

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Press Trust of India

Bengaluru

March 1, 2017

UPDATED: March 2, 2017 10:53 IST

Ola, Uber drivers went on an indefinite fast on Wednesday. Photo: PTI

HIGHLIGHTS

Uber, Ola drivers went on an indefinite strike in Bengaluru.

Now, drivers have declared an indefinite fast.

Strike is demanding better incentives and stopping attachment of news cabs among others.

Twenty drivers attached to Ola and Uber today began an indefinite fast here to protest against the cab aggregators not meeting their charter of demands.

Their protest got a boost with politicians including former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and other transport unions reportedly assuring their participation in the protest.

"Tomorrow, former Chief Minister and Karnataka JDS President Kumaraswamy will be supporting the drivers cause," Drivers and Owners Association (OTU) President Tanveer Pasha told PTI.

Over one lakh Ola, Uber drivers had declared an indefinite strike against the companies on February 23 and prior to it, on February 19, had staged a protest against the transport
department, asking for enforcement of the rules.

The drivers began their fast at Freedom Park after they met Kumaraswamy. Hundreds of protesters thronged the area. Some prominent leaders including Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha President Kodihalli Chandrashekhar addressed the gathering. He urged CM Siddaramaiah and State Transport Minister Ramlinga Reddy to immediately warn the aggregators to meet the demands of the protestors.

He said government should prevail over the aggregators in asking them to adhere to the provisions under Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. The following are the demands made by the cab drivers:

# Ola, Uber should stop attaching new cabs as it affects the bookings coming to those already plying.

# Better incentives for the drivers. Their earnings per month has come down to Rs 15,000 from the earlier Rs 85,0000.

# Drivers want the companies to stop penalising them based on customer ratings.

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